Schorsch, Robert S.

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Schorsch Robert S, born on 02-12-1917 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States His mother Elizabeth S, born Atzhorn Schorsch (1892-1924)

 w as also born in Illinois and his father Albert Joseph Schorsch Sr. (1888-1970) was born in Hungary. His father worked as a builder and later as a real estate contractor. Still later Robert was a real estate broker. Robert had two younger brothers and five younger sisters. Margaret Schorsch Smola (1919 – unknow), Albert J Schorsch (1920–1921), Raymond J Schorsch (1922–1993), Dolores E. Schorsch Wilbur (1924 – unknow), Albert Joseph Schorsch Jr. (1927–2003) and Catherine S Schorsch Most (1931–1999). By 1940 Robert as still living at home. He completed four years of college. He went on to earn a PhD, the highest possible academic degree, from Notre Dame University   Schorsch enlisted in the American army on 14-07-1942. At some point he volunteered to join the airborne troopers. He also married Donna Lacher. He became a first lieutenant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Division, under command of the Colonel Howard Ravenscroft “Jumpy”Johnson  of the 101st Airborne Division. then under command of Major General William Carey Lee “Bill”  Father  of the U.S. Army Airborne”  Robert jumped into Normandy in the early hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944. While leading his men in Normandy, Lieutenant. Schorsch earned the Silver Star, one of only 15 of these awards given to officers from the 101st Airborne during WW2. 101st Division General Maxwell Davenport Taylor  was stingy about approving awards for valor. Three months later he jumped into Holland on 17-09-1944 as part of Operation Market Garden. At that time I believe he was serving in the HQ Company of the 1st Battalion.

Death and burial ground of Lieutenant Schorsch, Robert S.

Robert, age 26, was killed in action on 24-09-1944, age 2, in Eerde, Holland.

His grave is at Saint Joseph Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois. Section: G Blk 11 Lot S1/2 4. In Eerde is a memorial for the 501 Regiment. The ‘Geronimo Monument’ reminds the residents of Eerde (municipality of Veghel) of the landing on 17 September 1944 of the 501st Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division as part of Operation ‘Market Garden’. The three small memorial stones in front of the ‘Geronimo Monument’ commemorate the 12 British and 48 American soldiers who died in Eerde in September 1944 and the 9 civilians from Eerde who died in the battle.

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com

 

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